A Timehri father of two is dissatisfied with the slow progress of the case concerning an accident involving his pregnant wife and son who were travelling in a minibus at Hope, East Bank Demerara on June 26th, 2023.
John Springer, of at 141 Timehri North, East Bank Demerara, told Stabroek News that around 07:00 hours on the day in question, his wife, Jewel Springer, 27, and son, John springer, 12, caught a Route 42 minibus, BAD-3857 and were heading to Georgetown. Jewel planned to visit the Georgetown Public Hospital maternity clinic as she was 35 weeks pregnant while his son was headed to school.
According to Jewel’s statement, as the minibus they were in was negotiating a turn at Hope, in the vicinity of GTT, another minibus, BAB-6803, heading south and overtaking a line of vehicles was on a collision course with BAD-3857. Upon realising the imminent collision, the woman tried to shield her son and herself and unborn child just as the two vehicles collided.
Jewel, son John, and other injured passengers were rushed to the Diamond Hospital and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was treated for a fractured hand and sent home while her son was admitted with injuries to his eyes. Other passengers were injured and some had to undergo surgery. Afterward, Jewel went to the Grove Police station and reported the accident.
According to John, he had to spend about five days looking after his son who had to undergo surgery for his injuries, and as such, lost his job. Further, his wife who had given birth back in July was not capable of doing much since her hand was broken.
The man explained that what made him speak out on social media about the incident was because of what he felt was the injustice meted out to the victims of the accident since their court proceedings were put off without explanation. He compared that with what he saw on social media about the way the law quickly dealt with the dangerous driving of Troy Humphrey who recently collided into the Eccles/Haags Bosch roundabout. He was remanded for the offence of dangerous driving and placed on bail. Further, he is required to pay the state $2.1 million in damages.
It has been over two months now, John said, since the accident occurred and still no charges have been laid in the matter. He questioned why is it the same system cannot apply to the citizens who are suffering at the hands of those dangerous drivers as it does to those who damage state property. As such, he is calling for justice in this matter. “What is there for the regular citizens that are going through this? I lost my job in the process of taking care of my family”, he lamented.
